Monday, March 12, 2012

a page from my book in progress

i wanted to share with each of you a peek at a page from my book in progress that i've been working on for a few years now! whew! it is filled with anonymous quotes from my therapy clients + accompanied by my narrative reflection + illustration. these pages are strung together in a way that tells a healing story. i long for the day to share the whole thing with the whole of you!! there is still a whole process ahead + timetimetime to wait...but i wanted to share what i've been up to with you! the type of my writing is small above + so i include it here as well:

*"something deep to learn: my favorite p.o. box exists in my heart. i love to hear what piles in. i try to give special attention to messages i hear more than once. here's a few of my own lately. i want to write secret love notes + leave them in library books. make up lullabies + sing them into a little recorder. i want to keep telling strangers they are beautiful. + there exists this deep thing. i get into trouble as soon as i stop paying attention. such messages come in on peacock colored wings + are meant to be lived. we all feel it. how scary it is to stretch. to bare teeth + bones into our world. to be here fully."

28 comments:

Telling strangers they are beautiful - this morning I noticed my neighbors (okay he is not a complete stranger) stunning blue eyes - and I told him, how beautiful they are - I think I made his day (it cost me nothing and I was rewarded with a surprised and wonderful smile!)

Somehow, diving down into your deep feels like soaring up high. Absolutely beautiful and calming at the same time, as if I've found what I've been looking for all along. I hope you get to do everything in your heart list. I'd love to find a love letter in my library book!

welllll, that was the angel whisperthat let out the tearsstuck behind my eyesall day.......so much beautyit popped the lump in my throatand now there is life rushingin and out again,life singing out comfortand safety.oh how I whisper backdeep thanks:)-Jennifer

Thankyou for sharing a snippet of your new book! I'm so happy to hear you're doing that, your words and pictures need to be seen by so many more people! I love the idea of putting little notes into things too. What a wonderful thing to do. :)Jess xx

oh WOW! these words are speaking to me gently and yet with so much POWER!I cannot wait to have a copy of your book in my hands, and yet I will happily wait to give it the time it needs to finish growing!

i agree with diane, sigh, if only! i couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry while reading this rachel, so i did both, honestly. you are so beautifully raw, deep, joyous and humorous...that's just a few words right off the top of my head. and thanks for the tune...i have always like that song, never thinking of the words...they are so simply powerful! thank you xoxo

BOOK available now! (click on picture)

"rachel's words and art are an uncommon elixir that travels straight to the heart by way of the soul. her book is simply a spiritual must. i've dreamed about its pages and know you will too. profound, transformational, and elegant." SARK ~ author, artist, succulent wild woman PlanetSARK.com ************************************************** "i was so moved by this lovely and honest book by rachel awes. i found myself returning to its pages day after day for a daily dose of meaningful inspiration. rachel's gift for pairing her unique illustrations with touching, often profound, wisdom spoke to my most tender pieces of what it means to live bravely, love deeply, and pay attention to the beauty that exists in our everyday lives. "all i did was listen" truly inspired me to lean into my life a bit closer, and take a closer listen for all big and small ways it teaches, uplifts, and heals." Kelly Rae Roberts ~ artist. author. possibilitarian.

"no one listens, they tell me, + so i listen...+ i tell them what they have just told me, + i sit in silence, listening to them, letting them grieve. 'julian, you are wise,' they say, 'you have been gifted with understanding.' all i did was listen." *julian of norwich*